Prolapsed Bladder after Hysterectomy for Prolapse

[Joan288]

I am a 65-year old teacher with a bladder prolapse that gets worse as the day goes on.   I will go into the washroom at work to urinate and can't and by the time evening comes, I have to lie down doing Kegel exercises so I can empty my bladder at bedtime.  I gather it's Stage 3 because it feels like it's falling out and protrudes so that I can fell it when I'm walking.

The surgeon just said that nothing could be done about it when it happened after I'd had hysterectomy with anterior and posterior repair.  He said that he will not do surgery with the methods they have now so I'm left with this problem that is driving me crazy.  I ordered a "truss" that is ridiculous and just cost a lot of wasted money.  I ordered a book on exercises that say it takes six months of doing them four times a day when I'm teaching all day, marking and prepping at night.  I don't have the time and retiring right now is not an option.

I am getting osteoporosis and am supposed to be doing lots of exercise.  I had been doing it, but have had to stop altogether with this problem.  I have told some of my friends at work but nobody talks about it or knows anything about it.  

Any help you could suggest would be appreciated.  

Joan (Canada)

[Joan288]

I'm sorry I haven't been back to this forum for well over a year.  I've been so busy but have decided to retire this June.  The second repair I had lasted a while, but I have a partial bladder prolapse again.  I am keeping it under control and get regular checks with the surgeon.  He said that it could stay like this for a long time but unless it gets worse or a new, safer method comes out for repairing it more permanently, I guess I have to put up with it.

To answer someone's question, no I didn't have the mesh repair.

Good luck to all, especially those facing surgery.  I would do it all again and have no regrets.  I'm just waiting now for something that will hold my bladder up permanently.  It's still better than it was before the last repair.

Take care.

Joan

[UKlady1001]

I understand how fearful you may be about an operation on your prolapse.  Do you know if you had the top of your vagina suspended when you had your hysterectomy?  Without suspension, you would have been and may still be more prone to further prolapses so if you have no suspension is this to be rectified at the same time as your bladder prolapse operation?

It is important to feel comfortable with any procedure you have done so write down any of the questions you feel you need answering and find out how many operations of this type your Urogynecolgist has done and what success rates they have.  If you have mesh questions for your Urogyne, ask them about this.  

I hope all goes well for you.  Let us know how you get on

[UKlady1001]

Spend time researching any recommended procedure and ask your Urogynecologist about their success rates in that procedure and how many of these operations they do a week.  

You dont say how your prolapse is affecting you or what grade it is.  Hopefully you have time to consider your options and get more comfortable about the choice you have made.  Look at all your options.

Good luck.

[Necee53]

I have been reading the comments and I am getting more frightened. I had a complete hysterectomy 10 years ago. Last week I was told that my bladder had dropped. I can feel it and have been experiencing lower pain in my back and lower abdomen. I am schedule to have surgery in February. I have started reading all the information I can and I am glad I found this sight. I appreciate any and all comments and advise on this matter. I had complications with my hysterectomy because of endometriosis and fear having this surgery.

[joan1111]

Did you have the mesh or what was the procedure to lift the bladder?  I am facing this now as well & certainly am becoming aware of scary issues with the mesh.

[UKlady1001]

Did you have mesh and is your surgeon a Urogynecologist?  I am sorry to hear about your cystocele repair failing so soon after your operation.  It is very important to have prolapse procedures done by a very experienced Urogynecologist.  Ask how many POP repairs they do a week and what success rate they have.  In the USA some Drs recommend that the Urogyne you see be fellowship trained.  
I hope this helps.  Let us know how you get on.